Korea's low-cost carrier industry opened the era of 100 overseas routes in 10 years after being established. Korea's budget carrier jet market was opened in 2005 when Hansung Airlines (currently T'way Airlines) launched its operations.
According to industry sources on January 3, the nation's five budget airliners, consisting of Jeju Air, Jin Air, Eastar Jet, T'way Air, and Air Busan, added a total of seven new overseas routes during the month of December 2015, bringing the total number of their overseas routes up to 103.
This figure is up 58.5 percent compared to 65 in late 2014, exceeding the number of overseas routes covered by Asiana Airlines which are 88.
Industry watchers said, "Low-cost carriers are widening the scope of services by developing a variety of new overseas routes. Another factor behind the increase in the number of overseas routes served by them is the introduction of new airplanes which enabled them to enhance seat supply capacity."
Jin Air launched a new flight service between Incheon and Honolulu last month, the first long-distance service for the nation's low-cost air industry. Jin Air introduced a 393-seat airplane (Boeing 777-200ER), opening a new market for the industry which has thus far focused mainly on mid- and short-distance routes.
